ARTBA Releases Highway and Bridge
Condition Data Background Information for Media Following Minnesota Bridge Collapse
Washington, D.C. [August 2, 2007]—Given the extensive media coverage following the Interstate 35-West bridge collapse near Minneapolis, Minn., the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) today released the following information regarding conditions on the nation’s highway and bridge network:
U.S. Highway and Bridge Conditions
- Of the 594,709 bridges in the United States, 152,945, or 26 percent, are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, according to a 2006 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data.
- Of the 961,382 federal-aid road miles, 161,750, or 17 percent, are reported to have conditions needing resurfacing or reconstruction.
Minnesota Highway and Bridge Conditions
- Minnesota has 13,008 bridges. According to FHWA, 1,586, or 12.2 percent, of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete—third lowest in the nation.
- Of Minnesota’s 31,612 federal-aid road miles, 2,871 miles, or 9.1 percent, are reported to have conditions needing resurfacing or reconstruction.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2006 “Status of the Nation’s Highways, Bridges, and Transit: Conditions & Performance” report:
- Structurally deficient means that significant load-carrying elements of the bridge are found to be in poor or worse condition due to deterioration and/or damage, or the adequacy of the waterway opening provided by the bridge is determined to be extremely insufficient to the point of causing intolerable traffic interruptions. A deficient bridge, when left open to traffic, typically requires significant maintenance and repair to remain and service.
- Functionally obsolete bridges result from changes in traffic demand on the structure. For example, a bridge designed in the 1930s would have shoulder widths in conformance with the design standards of the 1930s. However, design standards may have changed since that time. The difference between the current required shoulder width and the 1930s standard represents a deficiency.
Additional ARTBA Reports, Charts & Maps Online
ARTBA-prepared state-by-state comparisons and overview of most recent federal government data on road and bridge conditions are available online 
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Established in 1902, ARTBA represents the U.S. transportation construction industry before Congress, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, news media and general public.
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